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Post subject: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:01 pm
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:P

I saw the Yngwie model Strat.

So seriously, how do people manage this without going sharp all the time? I thought jumbo frets were bad.


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:30 pm
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They're primarily for shredding and vibrato, i.e. lead guitar, not chords.
That they force you to play with a lighter hand helps improving speed.


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:18 pm
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arth1 wrote:
They're primarily for shredding and vibrato, i.e. lead guitar, not chords.
That they force you to play with a lighter hand helps improving speed.


I guess that's probably why I cringe when I see a fretboard like that. I consider a guitar to be primarily a rhythm instrument.


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:40 pm
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It's many years since I had my hands on an YM scalloped fretboard. I did feel a bit odd, I seem to remember, and I've certainly never been tempted to own one.

However, you don't actually tend to touch the string to the fingerboard on an ordinary guitar, though your fingertip does graze the timber (which is why it feels strange when the wood isn't there). There's no reason you should go sharp on a scalloped neck any more than an ordinary one. Unless you have the fretting hand of the Incredible Hulk!

Chords are pretty much the same on a scalloped neck as a regular one. I guess you soon get used to the feel, or that's what people who use them say.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:43 pm
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run a low action. everything has to be fast. not my style but cool.


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:47 pm
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Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?


Very carefully.

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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:02 pm
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Lightly


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:26 pm
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I don't think I could do it. I'm kinda heavy handed. I catch myself squeezing the neck sometimes like I'm choking a chicken :lol:


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:37 pm
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How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
The correct answer is "quickly. "


If you are choking a chicken, you are probably playing sharp all over.

Try to push the string all the way to the wood and see how bad it sounds.

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Last edited by orvilleowner on Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:13 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?


Very carefully.

That's what I thought.

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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:42 am
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orvilleowner wrote:
How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
The correct answer is "quickly. "


If you are choking a chicken, you are probably playing sharp all over.

Try to push the string all the way to the wood and see how bad it sounds.

I seem to do it on certain chords and I do catch myself because yes it does go sharp. But I'm working on that it's just a new bad habit I seem to have picked up lately


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:55 am
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G_Strange wrote:
arth1 wrote:
They're primarily for shredding and vibrato, i.e. lead guitar, not chords.
That they force you to play with a lighter hand helps improving speed.


I guess that's probably why I cringe when I see a fretboard like that. I consider a guitar to be primarily a rhythm instrument.


You probably don't use fuzz pedals either, then :p

No, a scalloped fretboard is not made for rhythm guitar. Treat it as a different instrument, made for lead guitarists. Much like a Nord Lead keyboard isn't meant for doing the job of a Hammond organ - it can, but it's not what it was designed for.

Edit: Speaking of Yngwie Malmsteen and scalloped frets, it appears that Fender has just come out with a bunch of YM accessories.
Which is all well and good - Fender makes money, YM makes money, and the fans are happy.
I do wonder about the Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Clip-On Tuner, though, given that the guy is famous for tuning by ear, strumming all six and then adjusting those that are off. At the very least, you'd think it would have to be a chord tuner, but no, it's a bog standard tuner, and not incredibly accurate either (+- 3.3 cents if the pictures are right).


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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:10 pm
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The intrigue for me would be the ability to bend individual strings ..... all the while holding a chord shape.... Perhaps arpeggio's would dominate...

As much as YM is known for his lead work, he is nevertheless quite accomplished in chording / rhythm work, so I would venture to say that adjustment is necessary but rhythm work should be just another way to skin a cat.....

BTW..... Malmsteen scalloped his fingerboards due to his working on Lutes when he worked in a shop.... Even though Lutes are mostly Baroque instruments, predominantly played with single line runs, there are quite a bit of chords which inhabit the Music of John Dowland, Bach and many of the Baroque era composers....

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Post subject: Re: How does one play chords on a scalloped fretboard?
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 3:45 pm
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I have a semi-scalloped fretboard, someone killed before the neck of my MIJ Contemporary Strat (I hate it). But I can play chords, the scalloped part starts from the 10th fret. Still, my fingers hurt after playing on higher notes... I push a lot on those strings, bringing them next to the wood. No problem with chords on lower notes.


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